Russia blocks transit of Ukrainian goods

As of 4 January 2016, the Russian Federation has completely disallowed the transit of goods from Ukraine through its territory, Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry has said in a statement.

"This Russian ban is non-transparent, unjustified and of discriminatory nature. Thus the Russians violated their commitments, in particular those they undertook within the framework of the World Trade Organization and the free trade agreement dated 18 October 2011," the statement reads.

As reported earlier, on 1 January 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning direct cargo transit from Ukraine to Kazakhstan.

The document reads that international transit automobile and railway transport of goods from Ukraine to Kazakhstan via Russia may only be carried out from the territory of Belarus. This has to do with the suspension of the free trade area between Ukraine and Russia.

The Ukrainian government promised a synchronous response to every trade restriction put by Russia.

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